Safety binding for ski boots

ABSTRACT

The binding comprises two articulated levers urged towards the boot by a spring, one end of which rests against the binding element and the other against a moving piston which also rest against the two levers. The relative positions of the axes of rotation of the two levers and of the contact zones between the piston and the levers, ensure that the lateral release stress is independent of the longitudinal position of the boot on the ski.

United States Patent 1191 Salomon 1 Sept. 23, 1975 1 1 SAFETY BINDINGFOR SKI BOOTS [76] Inventor: Georges Pierre Joseph Salomon. 34.

Avenue dc Lovercliy. Annccy (Hautc-Savoic). France [22] Filed: May 8.1973 1211 Appl. No.: 358.329

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data May 10. 1972 France 72.16741 [52]US. Cl. 280/1135 K; 280/1135 T [51] Int. CI. A63C 9/00 [58] Field ofSearch 280/1 1.35 K, 11.35 T

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3.432.179 3/1969 Marker etal. 280/1135 3.822.071 7/1974 Mottet 280/11.35 T

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1.800.691 11/1969 Germany 280/1135 T457.235 7/1968 Switzerland 280/1135 K Primary Ii.\'uminer-Evon C. BlunkAssistant E.\'aminer.lames M. Slattcry [57] ABSTRACT The bindingcomprises two articulated levers urged towards the boot by a spring. oneend of which rests against the binding element and the other against amoving piston which also rest against the two levers. The relativepositions of the axes of rotation of the two levers and of the contactzones between the piston and the levers, ensure that the lateral releasestress is independent of the longitudinal position of the boot on theski.

12 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures US Patent Sept. 23,1975 Sheet 10f43,907,318

US Patent Sept. 23,1975 Sheet 2 of4 3,97,318

US Patent Sept. 23,1975 Sheet 3 of 4 3,907,318

US Patent Sept. 23,1975 Sheet 4 of4 3,907,318

SAFETY BINDING FOR SKI BOOTS tion or the other, or a longitudinal loadapplied, for example, when the tips of the skis strike an obstacle.

The binding is especially designed to ensure that the lateral releaseload is independent of the longitudinal position of the boot on the ski.

It should benoted that the longitudinal position of the boot on the skimay vary in relation to the locking mechanism for a variety of reasons,of which the main ones are as follows: the skier may have several pairsof boots of different lengths, or he may switch from left to right; theski bends when passing over an obstacle.

Many skis providing releasing means are known. For instance, the bindingdisclosed in German Pat. No. 1,573,773 relates to a device consisting oftwo levers mounted symmetrically in relation to the longitudinal axis ofthe ski and each hinged in relation to a fixed axis of the binding. Theends of these two levers rest against the boot, against which they arepressed by a single spring arranged along the axis of theski. One end ofthe spring rests against the binding element, and the other end, bymeans of'a piston, on two ramps each integral with the levers. In-abinding of this kind, the arrangement of the ramps on the levers makesit impossible to obtain a releasing force independent of thelongitudinal position. I

The same applies to the plate binding disclosed in French Pat. No.1,554,728 in which theplate is held between two points, one at the frontand the other at the back of the boot.

One of the locking systems consists of a spring which presses a movingpiston against the boot. The greater the compression of the spring, thehigher the load required for lateral safety release,so that the lateralre-' leasing load increases as the boot moves and compresses the spring.This binding also has another disadvantage, namely that the boot heldbetween points is relatively free to rotate about itself, and it istherefore not held very flat on the ski.

The binding described in Austrian Pat.-No. 277,834 appears to have thesame advantage as the binding according to the present invention; thelateral releasing force appears to be constant and independent of theposition of the boot. This binding, however, has the disadvantage ofbeing astatic. It consists of two levers mounted symmetrically inrelation to the longitudinal axis of the ski and hinged at one of theirends to a fixed point in the binding. The free ends of these two leversrest against the boot and they are urged towards each other, and pressedagainst the boot, by means of a return spring which connects them. Ametal distance piece integral with the binding is located between thetwo levers and keeps them apart in the absence of the boot. This bindingis astatic, since ifthe boot moves towards the stop, it spreads thelevers apart, and the latter no longer bear against the distance pieceand therefore have play. I

The binding according to the present invention is designed to overcomethese various disadvantages. According to one preferred embodiment,it,co nsists of a plate temporarily secured to the boot and held at itstwo ends by two lockingsystems. At least one of the locking systemscomprises two levers which are hinged in relation to the binding. Thesetwo levers are pressed against the plate by means ofa spring, one end ofwhich rests against the binding element, while the other end restsagainst a moving piston which itself rests against the two levers.

' According to a first characteristic 'ofthis invention, the plane ofcontact between the piston and at least one of the two levers issubstantially perpendicular to the direction of the load applied by thespring to the levers.

According to a second characteristic of the invention, the planecontaining thezones of contact between the moving piston and the twolevers passes substantially through the hinge axes of the levers.Preferably, the plane containing at least one of the zones" of contact,between the spring and one of the two levers,

is adapted to move between two adjacent positions lo cated on each sideof the plane passing through the hinge axes; in the first of thesepositions,-the boot -is held to the ski, and in the second position theboot is released.

Many bindings have been designed according to this principle. As aresult of several trials made, it has been found that these bindingshave various advantages. One remarkable thing is that the safety featurealways releases laterally very precisely at the same value of thelateral component ofthe releasing'load, regardless of the longitudinalposition of the boot in the binding.

In this connection itis important to note that two bindings identicalfrom-the mechanical point'of view (ie two bindings capable of absorbingthe same amount of energy before releasing) may be designed on differentprinciples. One of them, for example,'may have a short path and a verystiff spring, while the other may have a long path and a soft spring/Inboth cases, the energy stored by the two bindings, prior to release, isthe same. In the case ofa relatively lengthy longitudinal path, theconstancy of the lateral releasing load arising from the particulararrangement of the levers must be regarded as a very importantadvantage.

Up to now, the fact of the lateral releasing load of a binding beingindependent of its longitudinal position was attributable mainly to theheel pieces and was achieved by a double system of springs, one systemfor the recoil and one for the locking, which is known as a doublecircuit. An accurate kinetic and mechanical analysis of the operation ofthe binding would show why the effects obtained are remarkable. However,without going into details about mechanisms, it is possible to explaintwo immediate advantages arising from a judicious arrangement of thepiston and levers.

In the first place, it is worthy of note that frictional forces betweenthe piston and the body of the binding are substantially nil. As alreadystated, the areas in which the piston rests against the lever areperpendicular to the load applied by the spring, so that the componentparallel with the areas of support is practically zero. Now,'thefrictional forces may vary for many reasons (wear in parts, dust, lackof lubrication, freezing, etc.). It is also desirable that the lockingmechanism shall have no moving parts rubbing against each other andsubject to considerable reaction loads.

In the second place, the fact that the areas of contact are in a planepassing, substantially permanently, through the axes of rotation, helpsto limit the random effects of frictional forces between the levers andthe piston, which, as already stated, may vary for different reasons.When the boot moves forward, the levers move away from each other andthe angle between them varies in relation to the boot in a manner whichcompensates for the increase in restraint of the spring, which helps toensure a constant lateral releasing load.

According to another characteristic of this invention, the bindingcomprises a manipulating element moving about an axis integral with thebody of the binding. This manipulating element cooperates with a slidemoving in a longitudinal channel crossing the body of the binding. Theslide comprises a cylindrical channel in which are movably mounted thepiston and the spring, the latter resting against the body of the slide.The slide is actuated by an eccentric integral with the manipulatingelement moving in a groove in the slide, the latter moving between twopositions: the first position is such that the levers rest against theslide by means of two stops, so that the levers are spaced apart and theskier may place the boot in the binding; the second position is suchthat the slide is locked to the body of the binding by the eccentric, sothat the spring, located in the slide, rests against a part integralwith the binding; the spring presses the levers against the plate, asalready stated.

An example of embodiment of a bindng according to the invention will nowbe described in conjunction with the Figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view ofa binding mounted on the ski;

FIG. 2 is a view from above, in section, of the locking system at thetime of a forward fall;

FIG. 3 is a view from above, in section, of the locking system at thetime of lateral release of the binding;

FIG. 4a is a side elevation of the locking system, the manipulatingelement being at rest;

FIG. 4b is a view from above, in half section, of the locking system,the manipulating element being at rest;

FIG. 5a is a view from above, in half section, of the locking system,the manipulating element being raised and the levers spaced apart toreceive the boot;

FIG. 5b is a view from above, in half section, of the locking system,with the manipulating element raised.

FIG. I is a perspective view ofa binding mounted on the ski. In thisexample of embodiment, the binding cooperates with a plate 3 temporarilysecured to the boot by means of attachments, not shown, securedlaterally to two bent rods 9 integral with plate 3.

As is known, this plate cooperates, by means of its chamfered rear end8, with a ramp integral with catch 7 attached to ski l at 5 and 6. Theforward end 2 of the plate 3 has two lateral ramps 4, only one of whichis visible in the perspective view.

These two ramps 4 cooperate with two mobile levers l0 hinged in relationto the body 11 of the locking system fixed to the ski. Mobile element 10is shown in dotted lines so that the ramp 4 on which it rests may beseen.

An element 12, adapted to be manipulated by the skier, is hinged inrelation to body 11 of the locking system. The functioning of thiselement may be seen in FIGS. 4a, 4b, 5a, 512.

FIG. 2 shows a view from above, in section, of the locking system facingtowards the front of the ski; the two levers 20, 19 are hinged about twovertical axes integral with the body 14 of the locking system. In thisparticular example of embodiment, levers I9, 20 rest with their endsagainst the vertical edge of the skiers boot.

This edge may be a vertical plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axisof the ski since, in the event of a lateral release, the sole rotatesabout a centre located substantially under the heel. However, in orderto obtain increased elasticity, it is possible to increase thecompression of the spring produced by rotation of the sole by impartingthereto a shape arched at the front. FIG. 2 shows a sole slightly archedalong a continuous curve. In FIG. 1, on the other hand, the two ramps 4are at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the ski and are connected bya short flat section perpendicular to the axis of the ski. The twolevers 19,20 are pressed against the boot by a piston 26 actuated by aspring 25. The contact areas 29, between piston 26 and cylindricalprofiles 92,93 of levers 19,20 are located between hinge axes 21,22 andareas 90,91 of support on the boot. In other words, the supporting areaof a lever and the axis of rotation thereof are located on each side ofthe longitudinal axis of the binding.

It will be noted that, by reason of this crossed arrangement of thelevers, a considerable forward movement of the boot produces only asmall movement of contact areas 29 between the piston and the levers, sothat the plane containing the contact areas passes, substantiallypermanently, through axes 21,22. Moreover, this arrangement makes itpossible to obtain a suitable angular variation to compensate for theincrease in spring restraint arising from the forward movement of theboot. Manipulating element 5 rotates about a horizontal axis integralwith element 14 of the locking system. This manipulating elementconsists of two eccentrics 16 arranged on each side of the lockingsystem. Each eccentric 16 is engaged in a vertical groove 17 of a slide18. The slide moves horizontally in a cylindrical channel 24 drilled inbody 14 of the locking system along the longitudinal axis 28 of the ski.

Manipulating element 15 moves between two positions; in one of thepositions, the position of rest, slide 18 is locked to body 14 of thelocking system by eccentric 16. FIGS. 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b show how theeccentric makes it possible to lock the slide to the locking system.These figures also show the positions of the various parts of thebinding when the manipulating element is in the second position.

A second cylindrical channel 33 is arranged along the longitudinal axis28 of the slide. A piston 26 moves horizontally in this secondcylindrical channel 33. A compression spring 25 is housed, along theaxis of this channel. within the piston. one end of the spring restingon the piston and the other against the slide through a system ofthreads 34 which makes it possible to adjust the rate of compression ofthe spring. This system of threads consists of a nut 82 prevented fromrotating in relation to the slide, but adapted to move axially. Thepiston rests on levers 19,20 in areas located substantially along axis28 of the locking system. The outer surface of the piston, which bearsagainst the levers is flat and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis ofthe ski, so that this surface 27 is perpendicular to the direction ofthe force F applied by spring 25 to the levers.

It is worthy of note, and it is a characteristic of the invention. thatcontact areas 29, between the piston and the two levers, are located,substantially permanently. is a same plane 81 perpendicular to thedirection of the force F applied by the spring.

According to a second characteristic of the invention, the position ofthe locking system, and of the outer surface of the piston, is such thatthe axes of rotation 21,22 of levers 19,20, and contact areas 29, arelocated, substantially permanently, in a same plane 81.

The function of port 32 in slide 18, and of stops 30,31 integral withlevers 19,20 will be dealt with in conjunction with FIGS. 4a, 4b, 5a,5b.

A description will now be given of the operation of this locking systemin the event ofa forward fall. In this case, boot 41 moves in thedirection of arrow 42 and pushes the two levers 19,20 against the actionof spring 25. Slide 18, let it be recalled, is lockedto body 14 of thelocking system, and the end of the spring, butted up against thespring-tension adjusting system 34, does not move. The positionsoccupied by levers 19',20 and boot 41 prior to the fall are shown indotted lines. As soon as the toe of the boot has moved sufficiently, therear end thereof is disengaged from the rear locking system with whichit is associated. For instance, in the case of a plate binding,chamfered part 8 disengages from the ramp integral with part 7 securedto the ski (FIG. 1).

FIG. 3 is a view from above, in section, of the'locking system duringlateral release of the binding. Most of the parts described inconjunction with FIG. 2 will be recognized in this figure. In this case,boot 43, subjected to a lateral torsion load, moves in the direction ofarrow 44. During this movement of the boot, lever 35 pivots about itsaxis 21 and pushes piston 26, with which it is in contact at 39,whereupon lever 36 is no longer acted upon by spring 25. It is worthy ofnote that the lateral releasing load is substantially independent of thelongitudinal position of the boot. Thus the wings move apart, and thereis a change in the angle of the holding force applied to the boot or theplate.

In the examples of embodiment according to FIGS. 3 and 4, in which thelevers are in direct contact with the sole, each lever is provided withan upper edge, this edge being applied to the front horizontal edge ofthe sole and preventing the boot from being released in a rearward fall.In order to simplify the figures, this edge on the levers is not shown.

As a variant, the levers could be applied directly to the upper of theboot; in this case, they would be above the horizontal edge of the soleand they would no longer have to be fitted with an edge. Finally, in thecase in which the levers are applied to a part fitted to I the boot, forinstance a plate, it is possible for this plate to have a sloping shape,as shown in FIG. 1, in order to allow the binding to execute a safetyrelease in the event of a rearward fall.

FIG. 4a is a side elevation of the locking system, showing themanipulating element at rest. Body 51 of the locking system may be seenin this figure.

The manipulating element 50, shown at rest, moves about an axis 54 whichis fixed in relation to the body of the locking system. An eccentric 53,integral with the manipulating element, moves in a groove 52in slide 55.With the manipulating element in this position, the eccentric is locatedbelow the horizontal plane passing through the axis of rotation of themanipulating element, the latter being stopped against body 51 so thatthe slide is locked to body 51 of the locking system and cannot retreatin the direction of arrow 56 under the action of a force applied in thisdirection.

FIG. 4b is a half-section from above of the locking system. with themanipulating element at rest. In the absence of the boot, levers 57,58rest, through stops 6 60, against ramp 62 integral with slide 63, sothat locking spring59 remains compressed, piston 61 resting againstramps 64 integral with the lever.

FIGS. 5a and 51; show, respectively, a side elevation and a half-sectionfrom above of the locking system, with the manipulating element raised.When the manipulating element 66 is turned in the direction of arrow 68,slide 65 is moved by eccentric 67 in the direction of arrow 69. Slide65, in its withdrawing movement, carries along levers 72 which pivot inthe direction of arrow 73 about their axis 74. Thus ramp 71, integralwith slide 65, holds stop for lever 25, causing the latter to rotate asit withdraws in the direction of arrow 69.

Locking spring 75, secured to the slide, is also carried along duringthis movement, so that the rotation of the levers does not take placeagainst the action of the locking spring. The skier may thus operate themanipulating element 66 without any great effort.

When the manipulating element is completely raised,

the levers are spaced at the maximal distance apart,

and the skier therefore has no difficulty in introducing his boot intothe binding. In order to lock the binding to the sole of the boot, or tothe end of the plate temporarily secured to the boot, the skier pressesthe manipulating element down.

It will be understood that this present description is in no wayrestrictive, and that various additions and al terations may be madethereto, without departing from the scope of the invention. Thus, in thepreferred examples of embodiment described, the axis of rotationprovided for the right-hand retaining lever is located to the left ofthe longitudinal axis of the ski, and vice-versa', this provides acrossed arrangement of the levers. The right-hand lever might also pivotabout an axis located to the right of the longitudinal axis of the ski,in which case it would be preferable to provide a tension spring insteadof a compression spring. Moreover, the crossed levers, and the springwhich actuates them, could also be a part of the piece. fitted to theboot', in which case the ramp would be the ski.

I claim:

1. A safety ski binding including two locking systems binding theopposite ends of a boot to a ski, at least one of said locking systemsresiliently holding said boot to said ski in both lateral andlongitudinal directions, comprising: a body; a pair of lever means, eachhaving a portion thereof cooperating with one of said opposite ends ofsaid boot, each said lever means hingedly mounted in relation to saidbody and being tiltable forwardly and rearwardly with respect to the skiaccording to longitudinal positions of said boot on said ski; springmeans for applying each said portion of said lever means against saidboot having one end resting against said body and the opposite endacting on said lever means; the contact areas of said lever means withsaid opposite end of said spring means defining, for variouslongitudinal positions of said boot on said ski, tangent planesperpendicular to the direction of the force ex.- erted by said springmeans; said contact areas being consistently adjacent to a planeextending through the hinge axes of said lever means; said planeextending through the hinge axes of said lever means being perpendicularto the direction of said force exerted by said spring means.

2. A binding according to claim 1 wherein said tangent planes arecoplanar and wherein each said lever the plane passing through the hingeaxes of said lever means, I

a second position, for which the boot is released, the contact areabetween the spring means and at least one lever means being on the otherside of the plane passing through the hinge axes of said lever means.

4. A binding according to claim 1, wherein said lever means rest againsta first end ofthe, boot through a piece secured to the boot andextending under the sole thereof. i

5. A binding according to claim 4, wherein the other end of the fittedpiece comprises a sloping ramp cooperating with the other lockingsystem; said other locking system including a catch integral with theski so that the boot moves toward said first end, when it is subjectedto a vertical load.

6. In a safety ski binding including two locking systems binding theopposite ends of a boot to a ski, at least one of said locking systemsresiliently holding said boot to said ski in both lateral andlongitudinal directions, comprising: a body; two lever means, eachhaving a portion thereof cooperating with one of said opposite ends ofsaid boot, each said lever means hingedly mounted in relation to saidbody and being tiltable forwardly and rearwardly with respect to the skiaccording to longitudinal positions of said boot on said ski said levermeans being mounted symmetrically in relation to the longitudinal axisof the binding; a compression spring arranged along the longitudinalaxis of the binding for applying each said portion of said lever meansagainst said boot, one end of said spring resting against the body, theopposite end resting against a piston; said piston resting against saidtwo lever means and moving in a longitudinal channel housed in a parttemporarily integral with said body of said locking system so that theforce applied by said spring is in the direction of said longitudinalaxis; the supporting surface of said piston being flat and perpendicularto said longitudinal axis of the binding; the contact area of said levermeans with said supporting surface of said piston being consistentlyadjacent to a plane extending through the hinge axes of said two levermeans.

7. A binding according to claim 6 wherein said two lever means movebetween two positions:

a first active position, for which the boot is held to the ski; saidcontact area between supporting face of said pistonand the lever meansbeing adjacent to one side of the plane passing through the hinge axesof said lever means;

a second position, for which the boot is released; the contact areabetween the supporting surface of said piston and at least one levermeans being on the other side of the plane passing through the hingeaxes of said lever means. i

8. A binding according to claim 6, wherein said levers are cranked andcrossed.

9. A binding according to claim 8, wherein the contact areas, betweenthe moving piston and the levers, are located on the levers betweenthehinge centres and the areas in which the lever arms restagainst thecorresponding ends of the boot.

10. A binding according to claim 1, further comprising: a slide movingina longitudinal channel crossing the body of said locking system; amanipulating element moving around an axis integral with the body of thebinding and cooperating with the slide; said slide actuated by themanipulating element moving between two positions: a first position, inwhich the two levers rest, through two stops, against a ramp integralwith the slide so that the levers are spaced apart and the skier mayintroduce his boot into the binding; a second position in which thelevers rest against the corresponding end of the boot.

ll. A binding according to claim 10, wherein said slide comprises acylindrical channel in which the piston and the spring are adapted tomove, said spring resting against the body of the slide; said slidebeing actuated by said manipulating element by means of an eccentricintegral with said manipulating element and moving in a groove in theslide so that, in the second position, the slide is locked to the bodyof the binding.

12. A binding according to claim 11, wherein said slide has a port inwhich stops integral with each of the levers may move when saidmanipulating element is in the second position.

1. A safety ski binding including two locking systems binding theopposite ends of a boot to a ski, at least one of said locking systemsresiliently holding said boot to said ski in both lateral andlongitudinal directions, comprising: a body; a pair of lever means, eachhaving a portion thereof cooperating with one of said opposite ends ofsaid boot, each said lever means hingedly mounted in relation to saidbody and being tiltable forwardly and rearwardly with respect to the skiaccording to longitudinal positions of said boot on said ski; springmeans for applying each said portion of said lever means against saidboot having one end resting against said body and the opposite endacting on said lever means; the contact areas of said lever means withsaid opposite end of said spring means defining, for variouslongitudinal positions of said boot on said ski, tangent planesperpendicular to the direction of the force exerted by said springmeans; said contact areas being consistently adjacent to a planeextending through the hinge axes of said lever means; said planeextending through the hinge axes of said lever means being perpendicularto the direction of said force exerted by said spring means.
 2. Abinding according to claim 1 wherein said tangent planes are coplanarand wherein each said lever means cooperates with said one of saidopposite ends of said boot at an extremity thereof.
 3. A bindingaccording to claim 2 wherein said lever means move between twopositions: a first active position, for which the boot is held to theski, the contact area between the spring means and the lever means beingadjacent to one side of the plane passing through the hinge axes of saidlever means, a second position, for which the boot is released, thecontact area between the spring means and at least one lever means beingon the other side of the plane passing through the hinge axes of saidlever means.
 4. A binding according to claim 1, wherein said lever meansrest against a first end of the boot through a piece secured to the bootand extending under the sole thereof.
 5. A binding according to claim 4,wherein the other end of the fitted piece comprises a sloping rampcooperating with the other locking system; said other locking systemincluding a catch integral with the ski so that the boot moves towardsaid first end, when it is subjected to a vertical load.
 6. In a safetyski binding including two locking systems binding the opposite ends of aboot to a ski, at least one of said locking systems resiliently holdingsaid boot to said ski in both lateral and longitudinal directions,comprising: a body; two lever means, each having a portion thereofcooperating with one of said opposite ends of said boot, each said levermeans hingedly mounted in relation to said body and being tiltableforwardly and rearwardly with respect to the ski according tolongitudinal positions of said boot on said ski said lever means beingmounted symmetrically in relation to the longitudinal axis of thebinding; a compression spring arranged along the longitudiNal axis ofthe binding for applying each said portion of said lever means againstsaid boot, one end of said spring resting against the body, the oppositeend resting against a piston; said piston resting against said two levermeans and moving in a longitudinal channel housed in a part temporarilyintegral with said body of said locking system so that the force appliedby said spring is in the direction of said longitudinal axis; thesupporting surface of said piston being flat and perpendicular to saidlongitudinal axis of the binding; the contact area of said lever meanswith said supporting surface of said piston being consistently adjacentto a plane extending through the hinge axes of said two lever means. 7.A binding according to claim 6 wherein said two lever means move betweentwo positions: a first active position, for which the boot is held tothe ski; said contact area between supporting face of said piston andthe lever means being adjacent to one side of the plane passing throughthe hinge axes of said lever means; a second position, for which theboot is released; the contact area between the supporting surface ofsaid piston and at least one lever means being on the other side of theplane passing through the hinge axes of said lever means.
 8. A bindingaccording to claim 6, wherein said levers are cranked and crossed.
 9. Abinding according to claim 8, wherein the contact areas, between themoving piston and the levers, are located on the levers between thehinge centres and the areas in which the lever arms rest against thecorresponding ends of the boot.
 10. A binding according to claim 1,further comprising: a slide moving in a longitudinal channel crossingthe body of said locking system; a manipulating element moving around anaxis integral with the body of the binding and cooperating with theslide; said slide actuated by the manipulating element moving betweentwo positions: a first position, in which the two levers rest, throughtwo stops, against a ramp integral with the slide so that the levers arespaced apart and the skier may introduce his boot into the binding; asecond position in which the levers rest against the corresponding endof the boot.
 11. A binding according to claim 10, wherein said slidecomprises a cylindrical channel in which the piston and the spring areadapted to move, said spring resting against the body of the slide; saidslide being actuated by said manipulating element by means of aneccentric integral with said manipulating element and moving in a groovein the slide so that, in the second position, the slide is locked to thebody of the binding.
 12. A binding according to claim 11, wherein saidslide has a port in which stops integral with each of the levers maymove when said manipulating element is in the second position.